The COVID-19 resource centre, established by Elsevier in January 2020, provides free information in English and Mandarin on the novel coronavirus. Elsevier grants permission to make all COVID-19-related research available in PubMed Central and other public repositories, with unrestricted reuse and analysis, as long as the resource centre remains active. The article discusses the gastrointestinal manifestations and potential fecal-oral transmission of COVID-19. Initially, respiratory symptoms like fever, cough, and dyspnea were the most common, similar to SARS and MERS. However, less common symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal discomfort have been observed, often appearing early and mild before typical respiratory symptoms. Evidence from SARS studies suggests that the gastrointestinal tract can be a site of viral tropism, with viral detection in biopsy specimens and stool even in discharged patients. The first confirmed case in the US reported nausea, vomiting, and loose bowel movements, followed by positive viral nucleic acids in both respiratory and stool samples. Salivary viral load monitoring showed declines after hospitalization, indicating the possibility of salivary gland infection and transmission. Molecular modeling reveals that COVID-19 shares about 79% sequence identity with SARS-CoV, with ACE2 being the primary receptor. Bioinformatics analysis shows that ACE2 is highly expressed in the lung, esophagus, and gastrointestinal tract. This suggests that the digestive system may be vulnerable to COVID-19 infection, and further research is needed to understand the exact mechanisms of gastrointestinal symptoms. Additionally, mild to moderate liver injury has been reported in COVID-19 patients, similar to SARS. Recent single-cell RNA sequencing data indicates that ACE2 is more highly expressed in cholangiocytes than hepatocytes, suggesting potential direct damage to intrahepatic bile ducts. Early detection and intervention for initial digestive symptoms are crucial for managing COVID-19.The COVID-19 resource centre, established by Elsevier in January 2020, provides free information in English and Mandarin on the novel coronavirus. Elsevier grants permission to make all COVID-19-related research available in PubMed Central and other public repositories, with unrestricted reuse and analysis, as long as the resource centre remains active. The article discusses the gastrointestinal manifestations and potential fecal-oral transmission of COVID-19. Initially, respiratory symptoms like fever, cough, and dyspnea were the most common, similar to SARS and MERS. However, less common symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal discomfort have been observed, often appearing early and mild before typical respiratory symptoms. Evidence from SARS studies suggests that the gastrointestinal tract can be a site of viral tropism, with viral detection in biopsy specimens and stool even in discharged patients. The first confirmed case in the US reported nausea, vomiting, and loose bowel movements, followed by positive viral nucleic acids in both respiratory and stool samples. Salivary viral load monitoring showed declines after hospitalization, indicating the possibility of salivary gland infection and transmission. Molecular modeling reveals that COVID-19 shares about 79% sequence identity with SARS-CoV, with ACE2 being the primary receptor. Bioinformatics analysis shows that ACE2 is highly expressed in the lung, esophagus, and gastrointestinal tract. This suggests that the digestive system may be vulnerable to COVID-19 infection, and further research is needed to understand the exact mechanisms of gastrointestinal symptoms. Additionally, mild to moderate liver injury has been reported in COVID-19 patients, similar to SARS. Recent single-cell RNA sequencing data indicates that ACE2 is more highly expressed in cholangiocytes than hepatocytes, suggesting potential direct damage to intrahepatic bile ducts. Early detection and intervention for initial digestive symptoms are crucial for managing COVID-19.